Xi and China at the BRICS Summit

Many analytical items are being published and discussions occurring in the wake of the BRICS Summit. The focus here fell on Russia’s efforts since most of the primary sources it produces are in Russian and are seldom commented upon outside Russia despite its great importance as a geopolitical and geoeconomic player. China is wise to recognize that it must provide translations of its leaders major speeches and events and has created an excellent base of media to accomplish that task. Xinhua, Global Times, People’s Daily, China Daily, Qiushi, CGTN, and China’s White Paper Archive are all excellent information sources published in English. and there are many more. Given the abilities of today’s translation software, Chinese language media can now be read easily once the few translation glitches are recognized for what they are. One I found because Professor Zhang Weiwei, Dean of the Institute of China Studies of Fudan University, writes a column for it is Guancha, which translates very well. This is his analytical discussion with colleague Professor Wu Xinwen of the Institute of China Studies of Fudan University. So, getting input from multiple Chinese sources about the BRICS Summit and other events is easy to find once you know where to look. The opening paragraphs to Dr. Zhang’s discussion are a good place to start:

We have aired 198 episodes of this show. This program has always focused on deconstructing Western discourse, constructing Chinese discourse, and establishing Chinese its own mainstream narrative of China, the West, and the entire outside world. We have repeatedly pointed out that the world has entered the "post-Western era" and "post-American era".

Not long ago, Mr. Chandran Nair, director of the Global Future Institute, published an article in the American magazine The National Interest, and his core views are quite consistent with ours. He pointed out that today's world has changed, and it is long overdue for the West to accept the new reality. I would like to share his views with you and start a discussion.

Mr. Chandran Nair's article begins by stating that a "post-Western" multipolar international order is about to take shape. All of this is challenging many of the ideas and mechanisms that have underpinned the West's global dominance for centuries, challenging many of the privileges that the West has long enjoyed, and transforming international relations as a whole. [My Emphasis]

Xi in his recent speeches has emphasized the fact that we’re all living within a Historical Epoch that constitutes a Paradigm Change as noted above. Xi contributed four important documents and of course their contents both before and during the Summit. The first was his letter/article published in multiple South African media outlets: The Star, Cape Times, The Mercury as well as Independent Online: “Sailing the Giant Ship of China-South Africa Friendship and Cooperation Toward Greater Success.” Clearly, this had more to do with Chinese-South African and Chinese-African relations than the Summit, while also addressing the core of whet BRICS and the Summit encompasses. Here are a few outtakes from Xi’s letter:

South Africa was the first African country to sign the Belt and Road cooperation document with China. It has been China's biggest trading partner in Africa for 13 years in a row, as well as one of the African countries with the largest stock of Chinese investment. The pie of bilateral cooperation is getting bigger. South Africa's wines, rooibos tea, and aloe vera gels are trending products in China. Many Chinese companies are expanding their operation and at the same time taking more social responsibilities in South Africa. Automobiles and home appliances with Chinese brands yet made in South Africa are very popular among local consumers, and are now owned by numerous South African households. South African companies are also racing to invest in the Chinese market to seize the abundant business opportunities, and they have made important contribution to China's economic growth.

South Africa's Ubuntu philosophy advocates compassion and sharing. It resonates well with the values of Confucianism--"love the people and all beings and seek harmony among all nations". In 2015, I participated in the Year of China activities in South Africa, and witnessed the gratifying achievements of our Year of China/South Africa programs. Last April, the faculty and students of the Confucius Institute at Durban University of Technology wrote me a letter in Chinese, expressing their fondness for the Chinese culture and thanking China for the valuable opportunities provided to young Africans chasing their dreams. I find it very heart-warming. Indeed, these vibrant people-to-people exchanges enhance the empathy between our peoples, and enable our friendship to be passed down from generation to generation….

China and South Africa should be champions of our common interests. What the world needs today is peace, not conflict; what the world wants is coordination, not confrontation. China and South Africa, as natural members of the Global South, should all the more work together to appeal for greater voice and influence of developing countries in international affairs, promote accelerated reform of international financial institutions, and oppose unilateral sanctions and the "small yard, high fence" approach. We should jointly safeguard our common interests….

In face of the profound changes unseen in a century, a strong China-Africa relationship and productive China-Africa cooperation will provide more fresh impetus to global development and ensure greater stability of the world. This is an international responsibility and historical mission entrusted to the 2.8 billion Chinese and African peoples. We will convene a China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue. I will work with African leaders to bring more active, effective and sustainable development initiatives to Africa, expand cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, new energy and digital economy, and facilitate Africa's economic integration, industrialization and agricultural modernization. China will continue to work for substantive progress in African Union's joining of the G20 this year, and looks forward to a greater role by African countries and the AU in international and regional affairs.

One of the current critiques by various analysts is that the BRICS lacks ideology. The above outtakes are filled with ideology—the BRI is Win-Win ideology versus Western Imperialism’s Zero-sum. Ubuntu philosophy and Confucianism seek the satisfaction of the many and governance that promotes that end which is quite contrary to what Christianity has become over the last 1700 years as Jesus of Nazareth sought socio-political stability along the lines of Eastern thought where debt was abolished—Forgiven, not sins—and is the heart of Mosaic Law. Equality and harmony that rejects hegemony versus Imperialism. The idea that Humanity is a Collective not a bunch of separate entities that shares a future based on how well we treat the present. All of that’s ideological.

Building on the spirit of his letter, Xi gave a short yet very ideological speech at the Summit’s opening, “Seeking Development Through Solidarity and Cooperation
and Shouldering Our Responsibility for Peace.” Here it is in full:

Your Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa,
Your Excellency President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva,
Your Excellency President Vladimir Putin,
Your Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

I am very pleased to join you in Johannesburg for the important discussions on BRICS cooperation and development. It is especially significant that the BRICS Summit is held in Africa for the third time. I wish to thank President Ramaphosa and the South African government for the thoughtful arrangements.

We gather at a time when the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. It is undergoing major shifts, division and regrouping, leading to more uncertain, unstable and unpredictable developments.

BRICS is an important force in shaping the international landscape. We choose our development paths independently, jointly defend our right to development, and march in tandem toward modernization. This represents the direction of the advancement of human society, and will profoundly impact the development process of the world. Our track record shows that we have consistently acted on the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, and taken BRICS cooperation to new heights in support of our five countries' development. We have upheld fairness and justice in international affairs, stood up for what is right on major international and regional issues, and enhanced the voice and influence of emerging markets and developing countries. BRICS countries invariably advocate and practice independent foreign policies. We always address major international issues based on their merits, making fair remarks and taking fair actions. We do not barter away principles, succumb to external pressure, or act as vassals of others. We BRICS countries share extensive consensus and common goals. No matter how the international situation changes, our commitment to cooperation since the very beginning and our common aspiration will not change.

We gather at a crucial time to build on our past achievements and open up a new future for BRICS cooperation. We should navigate the trend of our times and stay in the forefront. We should always bear in mind our founding purpose of strengthening ourselves through unity, enhance cooperation across the board, and build a high-quality partnership. We should help reform global governance to make it more just and equitable, and bring to the world more certainty, stability and positive energy.

-- We should deepen business and financial cooperation to boost economic growth. Development is an inalienable right of all countries, not a privilege reserved for a few. The world economic recovery remains shaky, with less than 3 percent of growth for the year as estimated by some international institutions. Challenges for developing countries are even more formidable, hampering their efforts to realize the Sustainable Development Goals. We BRICS countries should be fellow companions on the journey of development and revitalization, and oppose decoupling and supply chains disruption as well as economic coercion. We should focus on practical cooperation, particularly in such fields as digital economy, green development, and supply chain, and bolster economic, trade and financial exchanges.

China will set up a China-BRICS Science and Innovation Incubation Park for the New Era to support the deployment of innovation results. Under the BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation mechanism, we will explore the establishment of a BRICS Global Remote Sensing Satellite Data and Application Cooperation Platform to provide data support for agriculture, ecological conservation and disaster reduction in various countries. China will also work with all parties to jointly establish a BRICS Framework on Industrial Cooperation for Sustainable Development as a platform of industrial coordination and project cooperation in implementing the United Nations (U.N.) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

-- We should expand political and security cooperation to uphold peace and tranquility. As a Chinese saying suggests, "Nothing is more beneficial than stability, and nothing is more detrimental than turmoil." The Cold War mentality is still haunting our world, and the geopolitical situation is getting tense. All nations long for a sound security environment. International security is indivisible. Attempts to seek absolute security at the expense of others will eventually backfire. The Ukraine crisis has evolved to where it is today because of complex reasons. What is pressing now is to encourage peace talks, promote deescalation, end the fighting, and realize peace. No one should add fuel to the fire to worsen the situation.

BRICS countries should keep to the direction of peaceful development, and consolidate the BRICS strategic partnership. We need to make good use of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the Meeting of High Representatives on National Security and other mechanisms, support each other on issues concerning our respective core interests, and enhance coordination on major international and regional issues. We need to tender good offices on hotspot issues, pushing for political settlement and lowering the temperature. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a new area of development. BRICS countries have agreed to launch the AI Study Group of BRICS Institute of Future Networks at an early date. We need to enable the Study Group to play its full role, further expand cooperation on AI, and step up information exchange and technological cooperation. We need to jointly fend off risks, and develop AI governance frameworks and standards with broad-based consensus, so as to make AI technologies more secure, reliable, controllable and equitable.

-- We should increase people-to-people exchanges and promote mutual learning between civilizations. There are many civilizations and development paths in the world, and this is how the world should be. Human history will not end with a particular civilization or system. BRICS countries need to champion the spirit of inclusiveness, advocate peaceful coexistence and harmony between civilizations, and promote respect of all countries in independently choosing their modernization paths. We need to make good use of such mechanisms as the BRICS seminar on governance, the BRICS forum on people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and the Women Innovation Contest to deepen people-to-people exchanges and strengthen the bond between our peoples.

China would like to propose that BRICS countries expand cooperation on education, enhance the role of the BRICS alliance for vocational education, explore and set up a cooperation mechanism on digital education, and foster a paradigm of all-round cooperation on education. In addition, we also need to strengthen exchanges on traditional cultures and promote the renewal of fine traditional cultures.

-- We should uphold fairness and justice and improve global governance. Strengthening global governance is the right choice if the international community intends to share development opportunities and tackle global challenges. International rules must be written and upheld jointly by all countries based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, rather than dictated by those with the strongest muscles or the loudest voice. Ganging up to form exclusive groups and packaging their own rules as international norms are even more unacceptable. BRICS countries should practice true multilateralism, uphold the U.N.-centered international system, support and strengthen the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, and reject the attempt to create small circles or exclusive blocs. We need to fully leverage the role of the New Development Bank, push forward reform of the international financial and monetary systems, and increase the representation and voice of developing countries.

I am glad to see the growing enthusiasm of developing countries about BRICS cooperation, and quite a number of them have applied to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism. We need to act on the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation to bring more countries into the BRICS family, so as to pool our wisdom and strength to make global governance more just and equitable.

Colleagues,

The ancient African continent is a reservoir of simple yet profound wisdom. As an African proverb puts it, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." The philosophy of Ubuntu, which believes that "I am because we are," highlights the interdependence and interconnectedness of all peoples. Similarly, harmonious coexistence has been the aspiration of the Chinese nation for thousands of years. China is ready to work with BRICS partners to pursue the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, enhance the strategic partnership, and deepen cooperation across the board. As fellow BRICS members, we should meet our common challenges with a shared sense of mission, shape a brighter future with a common purpose, and march together on the journey toward modernization.

Thank you.

Again, the emphasis is on collectivity of action; the individual prospers because of the community. The top two goals of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals are elimination of Poverty and Hunger, which tend to go hand-in-hand. None of that fits within the Western Neoliberal parasitic economic goals of turning everyone into a debtor completely reliant on Monopolistic corporations and subjected to oligarchic governance.

Xi’s next contribution was at the BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue where he made a short speech that distilled his previous longer message. Before provided the contents of his speech, there’s one small point to be made in relation to this sentence:

“The international community must pursue the larger interests of all countries, respond to people's concerns, and restore development to the center of the international agenda.”

The idea of development as now conceived was never at “the center of the international agenda,” although the UN did develop the 2030 STGs. Proof that this is the case is provided by this citation from a study done by Oxfam and published in May of 2023:

Wealthy Group of Seven (G7) countries owe low- and middle-income countries $13.3 trillion in unpaid aid and funding for climate action, reveals a new analysis from Oxfam ahead of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

Despite failing to pay what they owe, G7 countries and their rich bankers are demanding that Global South countries pay $232 million a day in debt repayments through 2028. This money could otherwise be spent on healthcare, education, gender equality and social protection, as well as addressing the impacts of climate change.

“Wealthy G7 countries like to cast themselves as saviors but they are operating a deadly double standard —they play by one set of rules while their former colonies are forced to play by another. It’s do as I say, not as I do,” said Oxfam International interim Executive Director Amitabh Behar. “It’s the rich world that owes the Global South. The aid they promised decades ago but never gave. The huge costs from climate damage caused by their reckless burning of fossil fuels. The immense wealth built on colonialism and slavery.”

Every year for years on end, the G-7 has promised to provide development capital and reneged, which is the primary point being made and shows that development was never at the core of Western policy which held global policy hostage until very recently. Overturning that paradigm is one aspect of the overarching paradigm change that’s occurring and one of the many reasons why Russia and China are actively escalating their relations with Africa. So, it’s no wonder Xi’s focus on Africa on the heels of the second Russia-Africa Summit just a few weeks ago. Now for the rest of Xi’s speech:

Your Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa,
Colleagues,

Let me begin by thanking President Ramaphosa for preparing the Dialogues. I am delighted to join you all in this discussion on global development.

Development embodies our people's aspiration for a better life. It is the top priority for developing countries and a timeless theme for humanity. As the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is due for a midterm review this year, the delivery of most Sustainable Development Goals remains slow. This is a cause for concern, and the global development endeavor faces formidable challenges.

The international community must pursue the larger interests of all countries, respond to people's concerns, and restore development to the center of the international agenda. The representation and voice of developing countries in global governance should be increased, and developing countries be supported in realizing better development. It is also important to uphold true multilateralism, forge a global development partnership, and create a secure and stable international environment for shared development.

Colleagues,

China has invariably stood in solidarity with fellow developing countries through thick and thin. China has been and will always remain a member of developing countries. I proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), precisely for the purpose of calling on the world to stay focused on development and lending impetus to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Last year, China held the first High-Level Dialogue on Global Development where a host of measures for development cooperation were unveiled. Encouraging progress has been made since then.

-- We have put development first and allocated more resources. China has set up a Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund with a total funding of 4 billion U.S. dollars, and Chinese financial institutions will soon set up a special fund of 10 billion dollars dedicated to the implementation of the GDI.

-- We have taken results-oriented actions and deepened practical cooperation. From Asia to Africa, from Pacific island countries to the Caribbean, over 200 cooperation projects have come to fruition, and cooperation mechanisms are growing in areas such as poverty reduction, education and health.

-- We have unleashed the power of innovation and built up momentum for development. Under the GDI, we have prioritized green development, new-type industrialization, the digital economy and some other key areas, and pursued a Partnership on New Industrial Revolution to boost high-quality development.

-- We have tided over difficulties together and made development more resilient. Food and energy security bear on the economy of a country and the well-being of its people. We have launched a China-FAO South-South Cooperation Trust Fund, implemented the Food Production Enhancement Action, and provided food assistance to and shared agrotech with many countries. We have also initiated a Global Clean Energy Cooperation Partnership with a view to achieving energy security.

China is a friend that Africa can count on. Over the past decade, China has provided a large amount of development assistance to Africa and helped build more than 6,000 km of railway, over 6,000 km of highway, and 80-plus large power facilities on the continent. Going forward, China will carry out more cooperation with African countries to support Africa in enhancing its own capacity for development. Specific measures will be taken, such as providing satellite mapping data products, implementing a Smart Customs cooperation partnership, and launching with UNESCO a "GDI for Africa's Future" action plan, to support sustainable development in Africa.

Colleagues,

A Chinese adage reads, "Victory is ensured when people pool their strength; success is secured when people put their heads together." Let us stay committed and united to build a community of shared development, and make sure that in the process of global modernization, no country is left behind.

Thank you.

China will deliver on its pledge of development capital. China’s emphasis is similar to Russia’s: “to support Africa in enhancing its own capacity for development.” The entire developing world has lots of human capital that needs to be enhanced so it can utilize imported then domestic sources of capital to build what needs to be built to enhance people’s wellbeing, not the revenues and profits of Monopsonistic Multinational corporations and their Neoliberal financial parasite allies. In other words, the two “visions” of the future differ dramatically and most certainly ideologically. Capital is required for development whether the basic system’s capitalist or socialist, and the basic component of capital is land; and sovereignty in its essence means the right of a people to do what they want with their national land. And denying that right is the aim of Colonial and Neocolonialism, where the fruits produced by that land is siphoned off to the Colonial Master nation(s). A socialist system keeps as much capital as possible in the hands of the public, whereas a capitalist system holds much of a nation’s capital in private hands, which is why great disparities occur in the latter—it’s not designed to be equitable whatsoever. Essentially, you have individual development versus collective/people centered development when comparing capitalist versus socialist systems. The West is the way that it is because it was formed out of a series of oligarchic creditor/capitalist Zero-sum Imperial systems, whereas the RoW didn’t have those specific roots and developed a different philosophical outlook which is at the root of today’s ideological differences.

On the 24th, Xi delivered the keynote speech at the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue that spelled out China’s plans for working with Africa to further its development and thus improve African lives. As you’ll read, to improve Africa’s situation, the international situation also needs to be addressed. At its end, Xi reminds us of three of his international initiatives—Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative—that all have roles to play in African and global development. Individually and collectively, they form a manifesto for action to secure the collective future of humanity. Here’s the text of that speech:

Your Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa. Your Excellencies Heads of State. 

Colleagues,

It is a great pleasure to co-chair with President Ramaphosa the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue. I feel a particular warmth seeing my African friends face to face after five years, to celebrate our friendship and chart the way forward for our cooperation. I wish to thank all the colleagues for attending the dialogue, and send sincere greetings to leaders of other African countries who are not with us today.

Africa is a fertile land of hope in the 21st century. This is my 10th visit to the continent. Each time, I feel the new development and changes in Africa. As the Organization of African Unity marks its 60th anniversary this year, I wish to convey heartfelt congratulations to you all and to the African people.

Over the past 60 years, under the banner of Pan-Africanism, African countries have made big strides on the path of independence, seeking strength through unity and integration. You have demonstrated the strength of Africa in the struggles to uphold multilateralism and the common interests of developing countries. With steady progress under Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU), the official launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and growing coordination among the subregional groups, Africa is becoming an important pole with global influence.

In 2013 after I became Chinese President, I was here in Africa for my first foreign visit and announced the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith for China’s Africa policy. Over the past 10 years, China has stayed committed to this principle. Together with our African friends and drawing strength from the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, we have pressed ahead on the path of solidarity and cooperation, stood for justice amid shifting global dynamics, and looked out for each other in face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have taken China-Africa relations to new heights and entered the new stage of jointly building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

Colleagues,

China is marching toward the Second Centenary Goal of building itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful when the People’s Republic marks its centenary. We are pursuing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. Africa is moving at an accelerated speed toward the bright prospects envisioned in Agenda 2063, and making all-out efforts to build a new Africa that enjoys peace, unity, prosperity and strength. China and Africa must work together to create a sound environment for realizing our respective development visions.

—Working together to promote a just and equitable international order. We should carry forward the spirit of sticking together in times of adversity, practice true multilateralism, and unequivocally oppose vestiges of colonialism and hegemonism in all forms. We should firmly support each other in defending core interests, stand strong by the just calls of developing countries, and work for a more just and equitable international order.

—Working together to safeguard a peaceful and secure global environment. Africa is working unremittingly for the goal of silencing the guns. China is ready to work with Africa to implement the new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, advocate the resolution of differences and disputes through dialogue and cooperation, facilitate the political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues, and safeguard world peace and stability. We should uphold harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and protect the security of the global eco-environment.

—Working together to build an open and inclusive world economy. What we need is to remove barriers rather than erect walls, open up rather than close off. We should carry out extensive consultation and make joint contribution for shared benefit, reject the winner-takes-all approach, and build an open world economy where developing countries are better involved in the international division of labor and share the fruits of economic globalization. We should overcome estrangement between civilizations through exchanges, promote inclusiveness and mutual learning between civilizations, and make new contributions to human progress.

Colleagues,

There are various paths leading to modernization. The African people have the most say on which path suits Africa best. Advancing modernization through integration is the independent choice made by African countries and people. On this path to modernization, China has all along been a firm supporter, and walking side by side with Africa. Over the years, China has helped Africa build a large amount of connectivity infrastructure, carried out extensive cooperation with the AU and subregional organizations, and assisted the construction of several signature Pan-African projects, including the AU Conference Center and the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Looking ahead, China will work with Africa to enhance the synergy of our development strategies. Through Belt and Road cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and in light of Agenda 2063, China will intensify dialogue and communication with Africa at various levels, and support the African agencies for integration, including the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System and the African Union of Broadcasting, among others, in creating cooperation mechanisms with China.

China will continue to support Africa in speaking with one voice on international affairs and continuously elevating its international standing. China will work actively at the G20 Summit next month to support the AU’s full membership in the group. China supports making special arrangements on the U.N. Security Council reform to meet Africa’s aspiration as a priority. China will call on multilateral financial institutions to enhance the say of African countries.

To chart the course for our practical cooperation in the next stage and help Africa bring its integration and modernization into a fast track, I wish to make the following three proposals:

—China will launch the Initiative on Supporting Africa’s Industrialization. China will better harness its resources for cooperation with Africa and the initiative of businesses to support Africa in growing its manufacturing sector and realizing industrialization and economic diversification. In implementing the nine programs under the FOCAC framework, China will channel more resources of assistance, investment and financing toward programs for industrialization.

—China will launch the Plan for China Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization. China will help Africa expand grain plantation, encourage Chinese companies to increase agricultural investment in Africa, and enhance cooperation with Africa on seed and other areas of agro-technology, to support Africa in transforming and upgrading its agricultural sector. China will host the second Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Agriculture in Hainan this November.

To help Africa tackle the current food crisis, China will provide additional emergency food assistance to African countries in need. More importantly, China has confidence that Africa will attain food self-sufficiency through its own efforts.

—China will launch the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development. China plans to train 500 principals and high-caliber teachers of vocational colleges, and 10,000 technical personnel with both Chinese language and vocational skills for Africa every year. China will invite 20,000 government officials and technicians of African countries to participate in workshops and seminars. To support Africa in strengthening education and innovation, we will launch the China-Africa Universities 100 Cooperation Plan and 10 pilot exchange programs of China-Africa partner institutes.

Colleagues,

The world today is undergoing transformation and turmoil, and changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace. At this point of history, we all face the tasks of how to address the deficit in development, overcome security challenges and enhance mutual learning between civilizations. In view of this, I have put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, called for peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, and advocated building a community with a shared future for mankind. These proposals have received the extensive support of African countries. China and Africa, through our creative explorations for modernization, are giving our answers to the questions of our times, and making joint efforts to advance the great endeavors of win-win cooperation, harmonious coexistence and shared prosperity of civilizations.

Next year, China will host the FOCAC meeting, where we may come together again and draw up new plans for our development. It is a big gathering that both sides are looking forward to. I am confident that China and Africa will carry forward the traditional friendship, enhance solidarity and coordination, and bolster our cooperation across the board. As we join hands to advance modernization, we will deliver a better future for the Chinese and African people, and set a fine example in the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Thank you.

Many analysts look at China and think it will want to do what the West has done and become King of the World, but that sort of thinking shows lack of homework on the part of the analysts, which unfortunately in the West is all too common. All we need to do to negate that assumption is to examine the Global Security Initiative, whose concept paper says:

“The Cold War mentality, unilateralism, bloc confrontation and hegemonism contradict the spirit of the UN Charter and must be resisted and rejected.”

The paper is based on the speech Xi gave at the 2022 Boao Forum and further elaborates the formula is this one massive sentence:

It is important that we stay committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and work together to maintain world peace and security; stay committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, uphold non-interference in internal affairs, and respect the independent choices of development paths and social systems made by people in different countries; stay committed to abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, reject the Cold War mentality, oppose unilateralism, and say no to group politics and bloc confrontation; stay committed to taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously, uphold the principle of indivisible security, build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, and oppose the pursuit of one's own security at the cost of others' security; stay committed to peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, support all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of crises, reject double standards, and oppose the wanton use of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction; stay committed to maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional domains, and work together on regional disputes and global challenges such as terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity and biosecurity.

It’s rather clear China rejects the West’s geopolitics and the philosophy that drives it and doesn’t seek to emulate or follow a similar path. Essentially, China is a We not a Me nation and seeks to develop a We World where humanity shares a common destiny. Making that a reality will prove difficult since such a vision and philosophy clashes profoundly with that of the West. Fortunately, pursuing its Zero-sum goal is in the process of ruining the West socio-economically and has destroyed what credibility it once had. We at in the beginning years of a multigenerational shift that will hopefully be accomplished without the West using nuclear weapons in a vain attempt to keep its position from becoming more negative.

Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a monthly/yearly pledge to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!